I don’t need no stinking elektrikal tuner or a goofy drum dial.
That Cammeyer invented the zither-banjo! What we in the UK called 'zither-banjos' were around in 1862 by George Teed. I know Cammeyer was a child prodigy, but inventing the thing when he was born takes some believing. Dobson also made something very similar in 1870, and English makers like Sanders and Barnett Samuel were producing them long before Cammeyer's visit to England in 1888, never mind Willian Temlett Snr in 1869. The term was in use long before Cammeyer's famous concert where the vellum burst and he's supposed to have 'named' it the zither-banjo. He doesn't give a date for the concert and claiming he named it by exclaiming "There goes the zither-banjo!" just because he was playin a piece of zither music doesn't add up.
No other instrument has a collection of myths around it's existence as does the banjo.
The other band members make all their banjo jokes one-liners, so that we can understand them too.
“Paddle faster, I hear banjo music….”
Getting slightly off topic.... But here's a goodun'. How many banjo jokes are there? .... There are in fact only two. The rest of them are true.....
quote:
Originally posted by 1935tb-11its all original pre war EXCEPT,, the rim, tone ring, neck, flange, and tailpiece..... other then that she's the real deal.
The Banjo of Theseus
I did a whole Banjo Newsletter column about banjo myths. Here's the link: https://drbanjo.com/lets-get-this-straight
Two big ones:
1. You DON'T have to plant 2 fingers to be "solid". If it were necessary, Sammy Shelor, Alison Brown, Alan O'Bryant and many others would be unheard of. There's *data* on that in Masters of the Five String Banjo. Jack Hatfield and I debated that in BNL years ago. Many teachers including some famous ones I won't name insist that it's "necessary" to be solid., and recommend rubber cement and such to keep 2 fingers down. Tell that to Sammy or Alison! I hope that by now that myth is dead. Of course Earl and I and plenty of others plant 2, but it's definitely not a necessity.
2. Earl does *not* slide to 4 on the 3rd string as it says throughout the tabs of his book. Check out all the videos of him playing. He either slides to 3 or hammers on 2-3, and then relaxes the grip to kill the 3rd string 3rd fret note (it clashes with the next note, the B on the 2nd string). Bill Keith explained his error to me -- he was just guessing, as those tabs are from when he was learning how to play and he *assumed* Earl was sliding to 4. Check out the videos and you'll see he does not.
There's more... check out the article.
Happy picking and myth busting!
quote:
Originally posted by STUD figmo AlWhat is your favorite one?
Myth: these are effective banjo mutes
TRUE
THAT ANYONE CAN LEARN TO PLAY THE BANJO ...(just like anyone can learn to play drums)... !!!
quote:
Originally posted by blackjake2fingersThat Cammeyer invented the zither-banjo! What we in the UK called 'zither-banjos' were around in 1862 by George Teed. I know Cammeyer was a child prodigy, but inventing the thing when he was born takes some believing. Dobson also made something very similar in 1870, and English makers like Sanders and Barnett Samuel were producing them long before Cammeyer's visit to England in 1888, never mind Willian Temlett Snr in 1869. The term was in use long before Cammeyer's famous concert where the vellum burst and he's supposed to have 'named' it the zither-banjo. He doesn't give a date for the concert and claiming he named it by exclaiming "There goes the zither-banjo!" just because he was playin a piece of zither music doesn't add up.
Great! Now post documentation of the term being in use, and advertisements of, zither banjos by name before Cammeyer. Important points:
Closed back
suspended rim
tunneled 5th
combined gut, silk and wire strings.
7 string banjos are only suitable for chordal accompaniment or very basic tunes.
A banjo doesn't sound good with a compensated bridge.
Don Reno developed Scruggs style before Earl did.
Here's the craziest one I ever heard. And it came from back in the 70's, so we didn't even have the internet for stuff like this. Anyway, here it comes: "Louise Scruggs developed Scruggs style and taught it to Earl." The evidence? First, Louise played the piano, so she was a musician. Secondly, some Flatt and Scruggs songs are credited on the records as being composed by "Certain and Stacy", AKA Louise Scruggs and Gladys Flatt. Even including the great Shuckin' The Corn. Case closed.
quote:
Originally posted by STYLE_CHere's the craziest one I ever heard. And it came from back in the 70's, so we didn't even have the internet for stuff like this. Anyway, here it comes: "Louise Scruggs developed Scruggs style and taught it to Earl." The evidence? First, Louise played the piano, so she was a musician. Secondly, some Flatt and Scruggs songs are credited on the records as being composed by "Certain and Stacy", AKA Louise Scruggs and Gladys Flatt. Even including the great Shuckin' The Corn. Case closed.
WOW! Never heard that one before!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CX1XsamXHis&pp=ygUgdGhhdCdzIGEgc29tZSBqb2tlIGVoIGJvc3MgY2hpY2_SBwkJEwwBhyohjO8%3D
quote:
Originally posted by 1935tb-11according to claims and opinions there were over 3000 original flathead gibson 5 string banjos.
4000 are still on sale today.
quote:
Originally posted by 1935tb-11according to claims and opinions there were over 3000 original flathead gibson 5 string banjos...
The version I heard of that one was...
There were only 1,500 pre-war flathead mastertones made by Gibson, and Curtis McPeake has certified all 3,000 of them.
My apologies to Mr. McPeake.
Not necessarily a myth but.... I have heard, and believe to a large extent, that there were approx 200 original, ONE piece flange, RB Five string, flathead banjos, from 1929 until the mid 40's..... OK. So now, there are also a few, very few, original TWO piece flange, high profile, full weight flathead ring banjos that were RB's... and a few that were tenor or plectrum. NOW - there were also approx (I've never heard an EXACT number or figure, but estimates run to about - ) a bit less than 1000 full weight, full height, flathead tone ring banjos, one piece flange, that were either plectrum or tenor... SO if all these numbers are pretty much correct, that means there are around or about 1300 or so at MOST original full weight full height flathead rings in existence.... SO yes, it's true that at any given time, there are over 3000 for sale....
Okay, now that I think about it, maybe it was Charlie Cushman who certified 3,000 pre-war mastertones. Anybody know for sure?
Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Privacy Consent (EU/GDPR Only)
Copyright 2026 Banjo Hangout. All Rights Reserved.
